'' Osteospermum fruticosum '', also called the trailing African daisy or shrubby daisybush, is a shrubby, semi-

succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

herbaceous flowering plant native to

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, belonging to the small tribe Calenduleae of the sunflower family (

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

). It grows between tall and can spread in width. The dark-centered daisy-like flowers range in color from deep purple to white. Some

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

growers have bred pale yellow-flowering strains. The plant is a

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

in mild climates. ''Osteospermum fruticosum'' has been classified as a weed in New Zealand where it is now a widespread coastal plant, particularly in the North Island.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7832818 Calenduleae Flora of South Africa Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus